Czech debut for Lucy Williams

Hertfordshire’s Lucy Williams will make her debut appearance on the Ladies European Tour this week at the Raiffeisenbank Prague Golf Masters at Albatross Golf Resort in the Czech Republic.

The 22 year-old amateur, who won the 2011 English women’s amateur championship at West Sussex in May, has received an invitation to play in the event.

She will have her father, David Williams, on caddie duties and he should prove helpful as a former professional on the European Tour for 18 years, where he is now a tournament director.

“I’m really looking forward to it and it’s good that my dad’s on the bag. He’s going to try to carry my Tour bag as well so it should be quite amusing: possibly the most amusing part of the week,” said Williams, from Mid-Herts Golf Club.

“The draw I’ve got is quite fun as I’m playing with Lee-Anne Pace and Karen Lunn so I’m really looking forward to it for I should be able to learn a lot.”

Williams played in her first professional event on the LET Access Series a fortnight ago and although she missed the cut, felt it was a valuable experience.

“It was nice to see how far away I am. I played alright and was three under but then double bogeyed two holes and that did me,” she added.

Williams was a student at Birmingham University on the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme and is PGA qualified. Now, with her degree under her belt, she’s planning to turn professional in a couple of weeks after the English County Finals and then attend the LET Qualifying School at La Manga Club in Spain in January.

Growing up, Williams said that she played lacrosse and netball and wanted to be a gymnast until she realised that she wasn’t quite good enough.

Although golf is in the family, she didn’t take up the game until the age of 14 and is coached by her father and Clive Tucker.

She eventually decided to follow in her dad’s footsteps, while her sister is an accountant like her mother.